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‘Lil’ Worried

Our most consistent pitcher over the past few years has only begun throwing lightly after having arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder two months ago. Hendry mentioned at the Cubs Convention today that Lilly is expected to be back by the third week of the regular season putting him on the mound end of April/first week of May. Now, he’d only miss about four or five starts in that case, but I don’t know.

I already don’t feel super confident in our starting rotation. Not the way I did in ’07 and ’08. Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, Harden and Hill. All healthy, on paper that just sounds solid. Even when we were going into the first season of Dempster as a starter and Wood as our closer, it just felt like a decent experiment that would lead to a positive outcome. Cut to ’10…Big Z, Dempster, Wells…Lilly after surgery and a number five guy that is completely up in the air.

The organization is apparently interested in Contreras and going to take a look at Sheets. I think Sheets will have an average season but his asking price is going to be too high for the Cubs budget and honestly, too high for what teams will get out of Sheets. This isn’t Ben Sheets a couple of years ago. This is Ben Sheets now. And Contreras? Can we rely on him to be a decent stop gap until Lilly is back? Maybe? And what about when Lilly comes back? How will he perform? Will he give us the kind of season we need out of Lilly in order to compete in the NL Central? Without Lilly’s all-star worthy campaign and Lee’s unbelievable (out of nowhere) turn around in 2009, we would have finished in third or fourth place in the Central easily. And now we have Lilly, arguably best as our number two pitcher, coming back from surgery on his pitching shoulder? Yikes. I don’t know. Honestly, I’m a little worried.

One name I haven’t really heard thrown around a whole lot as an option in 2010 as a number four or five guy is Pedro Martinez. He was phenomenal in the couple months that he gave the Phillies at the end of last season, including the playoffs. I think he’s healthier and less risky than Sheets, has done more than Contreras and is a known warrior. He comes to play every game he’s listed as the starting pitcher for the day and is amazing in the clubhouse. He’s respected all over baseball and would add a lot to the chemistry and atmosphere among the ball club at Wrigley if brought over to the Cubs. I was at Opening Day at Shea in 2005, Pedro’s first year with the Mets. The place went insane when he was introduced. I know this is five years later and he has a few seasons behind him on his downside, heading towards the end of his career. However, there is just something about the fight in Pedro Martinez and what he brings that I believe is an option Hendry should be seriously considering. Not sure where the Phillies stand regarding bringing Pedro back, but if they don’t want him, Hendry should make a call and an offer. I just feel like Z, Demp, Lilly, Wells and Pedro would be a solid 1-5 and if any of them were to go down to injury or end up unable to perform for an expected stretch of time we still have significant five spot options already signed to wear Cub pinstripes in 2010.

Something to think about. I don’t know Contreras is the answer. Not expecting Sheets. Would be thrilled at the roll of the dice with Pedro. Just a little worried about the rotation is all. And by little, I mean very. Anyone else?

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